Composite projectile



1966 w. a. WOODRING 3,230,886

COMPOSITE PROJECTILE Filed June 8, 1964 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM B. WOODR/NG A TTOPNEV FIG-4 BY United States Patent 3,230,886 COWOSITE PROJECTILE William E. Woodring, Branford, Conn., assignor to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Filed June 8, 1964, Ser. No. 373,255 2 Claims. (Cl. 102-91) This invention relates to ammunition and more particularly to a bullet designed for long-range accuracy together with improved wounding or killing power.

Heretofore, it has been recognized that bullets which are short with respect to their diameter have good wounding characteristics because they have a low longitudinal moment of inertia and tend to tumble upon penetration. This type of projectile, however, has such a poor ballistic shape that it loses velocity rapidly and is very sensitive to wind which affects its flight. Its accuracy is, therefore, poor and even when the target is struck the ability to penetrate protective clothing or armour is very poor. On the other hand, bullets increased in sectional density by making them heavier and longer suffer in wounding power although they do have better accuracy and penetration.

One object is to produce a novel bullet accurate at long ranges and having the stopping power of an expanding bullet of the mushrooming type but free from any disintegrating or dum-dum type of behavior so trat the bullet of this invention is suitable for military as well as sporting ammunition use.

Still another object is to produce an improved bullet resistant to tumbling in flight but with an intensified tendency to tumble within the target.

Still another object is to provide a composite bullet that makes a clean Wound with no more than a known number of distinct readily removable large pieces rather than a wound loaded with innumerable fragments of a variety of sizes some so small as to be nearly impossible to locate and remove.

Other objects and advantages will be seen from a description of various embodiments when taken with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one embodiment of bullet having two separate jackets;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of another embodiment the parts of which have interlocked cores;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a third embodiment having the separate cores interlocked by a single jacket; and

FIG. 4 is a similar view of still another embodiment having separate cores interlocked by a jacket weakened about the area of core contact for separability on impact.

In accordance with this invention a composite bullet is provided having a high weight to diameter ratio in flight and during penetration of the outer surface or layer of the target but having an apparent low weight to diameter ratio within the target. This is done by making a bullet which has the requisite extra length in flight but which after impact with the target is adapted to separate into at least two but not many more distinct components within the target. Each piece has a favorable weight to diameter ratio less than that of the composite bullet such that each piece tends to tumble within the target. These components are disengageably assembled in tandem. Although three or a few more tandem core sections may constitute the single bullet of this invention, two pieces are pereferred. The leading piece is suitably pointed to have a penetrating ogive and may be jacketed to have a resistance to any mushrooming and disintegrating tendency. If the leading piece is of a nondeforming material "ice such as iron, and of such diameter that it does not engage the riding, the jacket may be omitted.

The leading piece, if it has a core of lead, may be encased in the usual copper base alloy jacket. Its core, if made of iron, and depending on its softness, may or may not be coated with gilding metal or the like. The other piece may be of the same shape or any other shape suitable for the purpose such as a short right cylinder and may be jacketed. Where a jacket is included in the completed bullet, its primary function is to aid in connecting the pieces and its secondary functions are to prevent fragmentation and to engage the rifiing if necessary. Either piece or both may carry the jacket.

Both pieces may be of lead and at least the leading core, if of very malleable metal or other soft material, is jacketed so as to be encased in a material adapted to insure penetration without disintegration for the sake of humane but clean and effective wounding or killing. To obtain the utmost length in the composite bullet, the cores may be of a light-weight material such as aluminum.

Metals of a density intermediate that of lead and aluminum may be employed.

If the pieces are made of different core materials, either piece may be made of the lighter material. For example, a trailing piece of light-weight material such as one of the light metals, aluminum or magnesium or any of their suitable alloys, has advantages. A piece of aluminum, for example, has much more length per unit of added weight than would an equal weight of lead so that on impact separation forces acting on the composite bullet have a longer arm of force enhancing the tendency of the pieces to separate.

The pieces may be joined separably by jacket or by a separable joint directly interlocking the cores. Using a single jacket for the entire projectile, the same effect is obtained by weakening the jacket at the place where separation is desired. Any one of these or a suitable combination of them to make a separable union is contemplated for the tandem bullet of this invention operable upon contact with the target to develop a lower weight to diameter ratio by virtue of disjointing occurring in a predetermined fashion.

However it be made, there is produced accordingly a projectile which is heavy relative to its diameter during flight to the target and which separates without fragmentation into preferably two distinct pieces of more eflicient shape for wounding after impact than a onepiece projectile shaped like the composite.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the bullet has a jacketed forepart consisting of a core 1 of lead and the usual copper base jacket 2. This jacket has a rear extension 3 and the tail of the core is recessed at 4- for receiving the tip 5 of a second part of the bullet. This part, trailing the first, also has a lead core 6 and a jacket 7. The two parts of the bullet are interlocked by crimping the jacket extension 3 inwardly to form an interlocking circumferential groove 3 in the jacket 7 to form a separable joint.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the forepart has a core of lead 11 which is directly interlocked at a separable collar button type of joint 12 with the core 13 of the trailing part. Instead or additionally, joint 12 may be or include any adhesive core-to-core connection such as a soldered joint.

Where the trailing part 13 consists of aluminum, a sidewall jacket 14 is advantageously provided for taking the rifling of a gun barrel and thus avoiding undesirable contact with the aluminum portion in the gun barrel bore. Alternatively, where the trailing part 13 is of aluminum the jacket may be omitted provided the trailing part is of reduced diameter so as to keep clear the barrel interior. In this embodiment the trailing part if of lead may be un jacketed and of the same caliber as the jacketed forepart.

The trailing portion 13 shown in FIG. 2 can be readily made from copper-coated aluminum rod cut in suitable short lengths and each according to this embodiment is made with the protrusion shown extendable as a ball in a mating socket to form a collar button joint or similar separable joint when the rear end of the forepart 11 is squeezed inwardly as shown at the cannulure 15.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 the bullet consists of a front core section 21, a rear core section 23, and a front jacket 24 extended rearwardly from the core 21 so that the extension may be crimped or spun inwardly as at 25 to secure the rear section 23 separably to the other section.

Where in the bullet of FIG. 3 the rear section of 23 is of a light metal such as aluminum the diameter may be reduced to avoid frictional contact with the aluminum or the rear section may be coated or laterally encased by hearing metal as at 27. For example, one modification that occurs is that one jacket be long enough to encase both sections and that at 25 this jacket may be partially perforated at equal intervals about the circumference to form interlocking tabs and a zone of weakness at or very near the line of separation 26 between the sections.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the bullet consists of a front section 31 and a rear section 32 assembled so as to be butted together at a line of separation at 33 inside a single connecting jacket 35. To provide a zone of separability 36 about the separation at 33, the jacket is circumferentially cut away in part to provide a thinning intermediate the ends.

The ratio of weight of a bullet to its diameter is also known as its sectional density.

According to this invention there is provided a single missile which for accuracy and penetration is long and heavy in flight but which after entering the target breaks up into shorter but distinct missiles each having a lower ratio than the original missile fired.

When a direct connecting interlocking joint like that of FIG. 2 is used, it is preferred the protrusion be formed on the front end of the trailing piece and a mating socket be formed on the rear end of the forepart so as to avoid any tendency to mushrooming occurring with the reverse arrangement as shown in U.S. Patents Nos. 1,135,357; 1,322,662; 1,493,614; and 1,556,160.

A bullet of this invention is not to be confused with heretofore known subdivided projectiles like those of U.S. Patents Nos. 216,974 and 221,249 designed to fly apart sidewise in flight like shrapel before striking the target.

The bullet is likewise not to be confused with those bullets having a compound core locked together with a single jacket in a manner allowing the tip to mushroom and adapting the jacket for fragmentation during expansion as disclosed in U.S. Patents No. 1,049,419.

The bullet of this invention is distinguishable from the tandem arrangement of multiple parts as in U.S. Patents Nos. 36,197; 620,875; and 926,431 designed to come apart in flight one behind the other with resultant inaccuracy.

The jacket may take any shape suitable for the purpose. For example, the jacket may be cup-shaped and enclose the rear core piece completely except for its front end at which the jacket may be open and extended to grip the fore piece, particularly where the latter is of a deformation and fragmentation resistant material. The jacket may take the form of a ring encircling the core pieces where they are abutted or interlocked.

It is to be understood with reference to the embodiments disclosed that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bullet having a high weight to diameter ratio in flight for improved ballistic efficiency and separable upon impact into distinct portions having a low Weight to diameter ratio for improved kill characteristics, said bullet including a first member having a core surrounded by a first jacket covering at least the nose and sidewall and projecting rearwardly beyond said core member to provide an extension, a recess in the rear of said first member, a second member having a rounded nose portion received in the recess of said first member, a second jacket surrounding at least the nose and sidewall of said second member, said extension of said first jacket being crimped inwardly to form an interlocking circumferential groove in the jacket of said second member to form a separable joint between said first and second member, said extension terminating at said groove.

2. The bullet of claim 1 in which the core of said first members, said extension terminating at said groove. density than said second member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 221,249 11/1879 Nowlan 102-91 1,049,419 1/1913 Swett 102-91 1,715,788 6/1929 Rousseau 10291 2,932,253 4/ 1960 Auxier 10291 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,571 3/1906 Great Britain. 7,704 4/1895 Great Britain. 9,876 4/ 1907 Great Britain. 10,736 8/ 1895 Switzerland.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. R. V. LOTTMANN, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,230,886 January 25, 1966 William B. Woodring that error appears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified that the said Letters Patent should read as ent requiring correction and corrected below.

Column 1, line 29, for "trat" read that line 69, for "pereferred" read preferred column 3, line 52, for "shrapel read shrapnel column 4, line 2, for "Patents" read Patent line 38, strike out "members,said extension terminating at said groove." and insert instead member is comprised of a material having a different Signed and sealed this 27th day of December 1966.

( AL) Attcst:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents EDWARD J. BRENNER- 

1. A BULLET HAVING A HIGH WEIGHT TO DIAMETER RATIO IN FLIGHT FOR IMPROVED BALLISTIC EFFICIENCY AND SEPARABLE UPON IMPACT INTO DISTINCT PORTIONS HAVING A LOW WEIGHT TO DIAMETER RATIO FOR IMPROVED KILL CHARACTERISTICS, SAID BULLET INCLUDING A FIRST MEMBER HAVING A CORE SURROUNDED BY A FIRST JACKET COVERING AT LEAST THE NOSE AND SIDEWALL AND PROJECTING REARWARDLY BEYOND SAID CORE MEMBER TO PROVIDE AN EXTENSION, A RECESS IN THE REAR OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, A SECOND MEMBER HAVING A ROUNDED NOSE PORTION RECEIVED IN THE RECESS OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, A SECOND JACKET SURROUNDING AT LEAST THE NOSE AND SIDEWALL OF SAID SECOND MEMBER, SAID EXTENSION OF SAID FIRST JACKET BEING CRIMPED INWARDLY TO FORM AN INTERLOCKING CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROOVE IN THE JACKET OF SAID SECOND MEMBER TO FORM A SEPARABLE JOINT BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBER, SAID EXTENSION TERMINATING AT SAID GROOVE. 